By Jeremy Deutsch, Special to JTNews
It’s no exaggeration to say that this fall’s elections could be the most important in over a generation.
With our economy still struggling to recover from the terrorist attacks on September 11 and American troops overseas engaged in a war against terrorism, the choices we make at the polls on November 2 will dramatically impact our society for years to come.
Nothing less than America’s role in the world and Israel’s survival are at stake this November. For Jews, nothing could be more important.
We only make up 2.5 percent of the country’s population, yet when it comes to voting, our turnout numbers are higher than any other minority group in the country. This year will be no different, and one can argue that even more attention has been placed on the Jewish voters.
A major reason for all this attention is our large concentration in major swing states like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Clearly, another reason is our deep and rich tradition. Sure, Moses did not hold an election before he led our people out of Egypt, and thankfully there were no polls or campaigns conducted on that matter either. Who knows what the end result might have been.
There is also Rabbi Hillel’s sage advice in Pirke Avot, "do not separate yourself from the community." Clearly, as a Jew, whether we are Republican, Democrat or Independent, we should play an active role in our community and in choosing our leaders. Therefore, voting is a mitzvah!
Before I make the case on why Jews should vote for Bush, I can tell you unequivocally that I am proud to be part of a religion, group and community that takes so much pride in voting – though on occasion my vote may be cancelled out.
If you believe that the global war on terrorism, national security, and protecting the State of Israel are important issues, then the case is quite clear for a Bush reelection.
After the horrific acts of September 11, the United States and Israel forged a new and stronger global alliance to fight the war on terrorism. We remember what it was like before Bush, and the terrorist attacks. When it came to U.S. policy in the Middle East, the United States always tried to steer a middle course between the Arab regimes that controlled oil resources and Israel, a democratic republic with Western values.
After the 9/11 attacks, led by radical and extreme Arab fundamentalists, anyone could see that the even-handed policy was not working. The oil-rich Arab regimes, in which the United States had invested so much money and military resources, were too unstable and unfriendly to be reliable allies.
Before 9/11, the United States thought it had something to teach Israel about tolerance and coexistence; after 9/11, the United States went to Israel to learn about suicide bombers and fighting other forms of terrorism.
The United States had many choices after 9/11. The decision to position U.S. troops in the Middle East was not a foregone conclusion. If you think that President Bush used weapons of mass destruction as a pretext to topple Saddam Hussein, then ask yourself: why the ruse? What is the real reason?
The answer is that the real reason we are in the Middle East is to protect Israel. The real reason is that the Saudi monarchy, either through sins of commission or sins of omission, betrayed us. Take out your atlas. Quit thinking about Saddam Hussein. When he needed to, Bush positioned troops between Iran and Saudi Arabia and Israel.
These actions are backed up by the words of Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, when he poignantly stated the following: "If Israel falls to the terrorists, the entire free world will tremble. To forsake Israel now would be tantamount to forsaking Great Britain in 1940. It is unthinkable, and it is unthinkable because the world wants to know if we believe freedom is worth fighting for."
Take a look at some other major international accomplishments that have led to a safer United States and Israel:
- Afghanistan, once the home of al Qaida and ruled by one of the most brutal regimes – the Taliban. Today, the terror camps are now closed, the Afghan government is helping hunt down the Taliban, and they are holding a presidential election this fall.
- Pakistan, one of the very few countries that recognized the Taliban regime. Today, they are helping us with the fight against terror.
- Libya, a longtime supporter of terrorist activities, spending millions of dollars each year trying to acquire nuclear and chemical weapons. Today, most of their chemical munitions have been destroyed.
Three years have passed since the terrible acts of 9/11, and through President Bush’s leadership America today is safer and stronger than it’s ever been before. President Bush has led the largest reorganization of the government since World War II. He and his administration have strengthened and improved our intelligence capabilities, provided more support for first responders and local homeland security efforts, and significantly increased our protection both home and abroad. For these reasons and many others, President Bush deserves to be reelected.
Jeremy Deutsch is the Executive Director of the House Republican Organizational Committee, the official campaign arm for House Republicans in Washington State.